Cape Bailey track from visitor centre to Boat Harbour Reserve

This walk starts from Kurnell’s Botany Bay Visitors Centre and heads south through the national park. The track winds through dry gum forest until it breaks out into heath, joining onto the Cape Bailey walking track. As it continues south, through small sand dunes and in between hanging swamps, the track winds in and out of the cliff top coastline to the end of the Sir Joseph Banks drive. The side trip up to the Cape Bailey lighthouse is well worth the small climb.

Visitor Centre

This visitors’ centre can be found on Cape Solander Drive, inside Kamay Botany Bay National Park. It provides great information about the area’s history and environment, plus there is a souvenir shop, where some simple food and drink is also available. A Trailrider is also available for free hire for people with limited mobility. There is a male & female toilet block

(0km) Carpark → Int of Kurnell Lookout and Muru Tracks

260 m

5 mins

20m

0m

Easy track

From the main exit of the Botany Bay Discovery Centre car park, the track heads south-east, out of the car park along the old service trail (Not on the Banks Solander Track). Partway along, the track passes over a small bridge. This is shortly before an intersection with Cape Solander Drive. Just across the road, another service trail begins.Continue straight: From Cape Solander Dr, this walk heads south-east away from the discovery centre and along the management trail for approximately 200m until coming to an intersection with a sandy track on the left.

Moderate track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads south-west along the sandy track until coming to an intersection with another track on the left. Kurnell Lookout is at the top of the knoll at this intersection, view obstructed with treesContinue straight: From the intersection at Kurnell Lookout, this walk heads south-west meandering along a narrow sandy bush track that has several small ups and downs. The track soon comes to an intersection with a wide management trail.Turn left: From the intersection, the walk follows the main management trail to the south-east through the open ferny forest. Soon, the Yena trail meets the radar track (on the right).

Moderate track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads south along a sandy bush track towards the water tank and radar tower. This is a very sandy trail, with several small ups and downs along the way to a ‘T’ intersection with a wide bush track – just to the west of here (approximately 5m), there is another intersection with a service trail.

(1.17km) Int of Cape Bailey and link track → Int of Cape Bailey track and the radar service trail

380 m

6 mins

6m

-3m

Moderate track

Turn left: From the intersection, the walk initially heads east, then turns right along the wide bush track, keeping the water tank and the radar on the right as it winds through the heath forest, coming to a four-way intersection with a wide management trail.

Moderate track

Veer left: From the intersection, the walk heads south (with the water tank directly behind) along the sandy bush track, and then along the rock-shelf until coming to an intersection marked by several arrows.Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads south (keeping the ocean to the left, about 150m away) along the rock and the sandy track, through the low dense scrub. Along this part of the track, there are several sections where wind and water erosion has developed small holes along the rock shelf that give it a very interesting look. After some time, this walk passes a small bush track on the left (which heads out to the coast), and shortly after this, comes to an intersection with a service trail at Tabbigai Gap.

(2.85km) Tabbigai Gap Track Int → Sand dune int

550 m

9 mins

8m

-6m

Moderate track

Veer left: From the Tabbigai Gap, this walk follows the clear, sandy track east (with the Tabbigai Gap on the left) up a short hill until it turns right at the small clearing. The track stays away from the ocean and soon comes to a large sand dune clearing. From the other end of the clearing, the walk follows the track south (ocean on the left) through the thick scrub, winding along until it rises up a hill to a long sand dune clearing. From the far end of this clearing, the walk follows the overgrown track through the thick scrub, until it widens out a little and continues south for a short distance, to the intersection in the pit of a sand dune, with a large hanging swamp on the right.

Hanging Swamps

There are a number of hanging swamps that can be found along the Cape Bailey walk. They are home to a number of different plants and animals like reeds and frogs. Hanging swamps are formed on high ground when rainfall seeps out of surrounding hills and accumulates in a slight depression, over time forming a swamp. Interestingly, they are sometimes difficult to see from far away as the thick build up of reeds and other plant life often cover the water.

(3.39km) Sand dune int → Int of Cape Bailey lighthouse track

950 m

18 mins

28m

-22m

Moderate track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the narrow bush track that heads west to the top of the dunes. (From the top of the dune there are some great views of the hanging swamp straight ahead). The track then turns left and drops off the top of the sand dune, keeping the swamp on the right. The track then climbs a sandy hill to some more views before turning left and heading along a sandy track, through several more large sand dunes. After these dunes, the track starts to flatten out and widen, to head along to an intersection with a bush track (which heads to the lighthouse).

(4.35km) Int of Cape Bailey Lighthouse track → Cape Bailey Lighthouse

80 m

2 mins

8m

0m

Moderate track

Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the sandy bush track, heading up and away from the ocean. The track is relatively defined for most of the way, however in the last 20m the track becomes quite overgrown and a little less defined (the lighthouse is always visible). Once at the lighthouse, there are good views inland, however the views to the east are largely blocked by the high scrub. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn right.

Cape Baily Lighthouse

Established in 1950, the lighthouse was required so north-bound shipping could hug the coast and avoid the strong southerly currents further out to sea. This lighthouse can be found a stone’s-throw from the Cape Baily coastal walk, about 1.5 kilometres north from the Joseph Banks Drive car park. More info.

(4.35km) Int of Cape Bailey lighthouse track → Rock platform

690 m

16 mins

25m

-42m

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the management trail south, along the coastline (keeping the ocean on the left). The trail winds down through tall heath for approximately 300m to the open rock platform. The walk bends right and continues south, down the hill and along the edge of the scrub for approximately 380m more. Here, the walk comes to the start of a track that leads back into the scrub.

(5.04km) Rock platform → Sir Joseph Banks Drive Carpark

700 m

12 mins

5m

-14m

Hard track

Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the management trail as it heads south-west off the rock platform (keeping the ocean on the left) and down the grassy hill, passing a few small tracks, coming to the end of the clear management trail. From here, the walk follows the coast (ocean on the left), cutting across the mouth of the sand dunes and bending around to the right and up the gentle hill to the Sir Joseph Banks Drive car park.

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Cape Bailey track from visitor centre to Boat Harbour Reserve

Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001

Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.

Length

5.7 km

Time

2 hrs 30 mins

.

Grade 4/6

Hard track

AS 2156.1

Gradient

Short steep hills (3/6)

Quality of track

Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)

Signs

Directional signs along the way (3/6)

Experience Required

Moderate level of bushwalking experience recommended (4/6)

Weather

Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Infrastructure

Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)

Some more details of this walks Grading

Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk

Gradient

3.1km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps and another 2.4km has short steep hills. The remaining (170m) is flat with no steps.

Quality of track

3.7km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles and another 1.4km follows a clear and well formed track or trail. The remaining (700m) follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely.

Signs

Around 4.6km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 1.2km is clearly signposted.

Experience Required

3.4km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience and another 1.7km requires some bushwalking experience. The remaining (700m) requires a leader a with moderate level of bushwalking experience.

weather

This whole walk, 6km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure

Around 5km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 420m is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).

Similar walks

A list of walks that share part of the track with the Cape Bailey track from visitor centre to Boat Harbour Reserve walk.

Fire Danger

http://new.wildwalks.com/wildwalks_custom/includes/walk_fire_danger.php?walkid=nsw-botanybnp-cbtfvctbhr
Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.

Weather Forest

This walk starts in the Metropolitan weather district always check the formal BOM forecast or pdf before starting your walk.
http://new.wildwalks.com/wildwalks_custom/includes/walk_weather_danger.php?walkid=nsw-botanybnp-cbtfvctbhr
Forecast snapshot